AQA A Level Physics

Topic Questions

A LevelPhysicsAQATopic Questions2. Particles & Radiation2.1 Atomic Structure & Decay Equations

2.1 Atomic Structure & Decay Equations

DownloadView
Easy
Medium
Hard
Easy
Medium
Hard
11 mark

Which statements will always be true about any nucleus?

  1. They have no charge
  2. They contain at least one electron
  3. Their number of neutrons and protons are equal
  4. They are positively charged

  • 1 only

  • 1 and 3

  • 3 and 4 

  • 4 only

Choose your answer

Did this page help you?

21 mark

When an alpha particle is emitted from the nuclei of a substance, which of the following remain constant?

  • proton number of the nuclei

  • nucleon number of the nuclei

  • neutron number of the nuclei

  • number of electrons in the valence shell of the atom

Choose your answer

Did this page help you?

31 mark

Which row is correct for the numbers of each particle in a neutral atom of U presubscript 92 presuperscript 234?

 

protons

neutrons

electrons

A

92

92

92

B

92

142

92

C

142

92

142

D

234

142

92

Choose your answer

Did this page help you?

41 mark

The equation for specific charge is that specific charge = Q over m.

What are the units of specific charge?

  • C kg-1

  • C kg

  • kg C-1

  • A kg-1

Choose your answer

Did this page help you?

51 mark

What is the specific charge on the nucleus of H presubscript 2 presuperscript 4 e ?

  • mass of a proton = 1.67 × 10-27 kg
  • mass of a neutron = 1.67 × 10-27 kg
  • charge on proton = +1.60 × 10-19 C

  • 2.40 × 107 C kg-1 

  • 4.70 × 107 C kg-1

  • 9.60 × 107 C kg-1

  • 1.90 × 108 C kg-1

Choose your answer

Did this page help you?

61 mark

Specific charge is used to describe the charge-mass ratio of certain particles.

Which statement is not correct?

  • ions have a non-zero value for specific charge, and we include their electrons when calculating it

  • neutral atoms have a non-zero value for specific charge, and we include their electrons when calculating it

  • all nuclei have a non-zero value for specific charge, calculated using their proton and neutron numbers

  • the specific charge on isotopes of the same substance will always be different

Choose your answer

Did this page help you?

71 mark

The strong nuclear force is responsible for holding the nucleus together.

The strength of the strong nuclear force varies with the distance between nuclei, as shown on the graph below.

 q7_atomic-structure_aqa-as-mcq

 

What does each section of the graph tell us?

  1 2 3

A

at very close range the force is repulsive

the typical nuclear separation is about 1 fm

there is a short-range attraction between nucleons up to 3 fm apart

B

the strong nuclear force is mostly repulsive

the force is at a minimum at 1 fm

up to 3 fm the force between nucleons is attractive

C

at very close range the force is repulsive

the force is at a minimum at 1 fm

the electrostatic repulsion between protons falls to zero at 3 fm

D

protons repel each other due to their charges

electrostatic force is the least at 1 fm

the electrostatic repulsion between protons falls to zero at 3 fm

Choose your answer

Did this page help you?

81 mark

An isotope of A presubscript 95 presuperscript 241 m undergoes alpha-decay.

Which letter represents the correct proton-neutron product of the decay?

q8_atomic-structure_aqa-as-mcq

Choose your answer

Did this page help you?

91 mark

In β- decay a neutron decays to form three products.

Which row correctly identifies the three missing particles in the decay equation?

 n space rightwards arrow space square space plus space square space plus space square

A

anti-proton

electron

anti-neutrino

B

proton

electron

anti-neutrino

C

proton

positron

neutrino

D

anti-proton

positron

neutrino

Choose your answer

Did this page help you?

101 mark

A substance undergoes first alpha decay and then β-plus decay.

Initially the substance has a mass number of 235 and a proton number of 92.

What are the correct values after the two decays are complete?

 

nucleons

protons

neutrons

A

231

89

142

B

231

91

140

C

231

90

141

D

235

93

142

Choose your answer

Did this page help you?

11 mark

A particular nucleus X presubscript Z presuperscript A,  decays to form Y presubscript z presuperscript a, which then has two possible decay paths, resulting in either an isotope of Thallium (T l) or Polonium (Po), as shown.
q21_atomic-structure_aqa-as-mcq

Which isotope could not be X presubscript Z presuperscript A?

  • P presubscript 82 presuperscript 215 b

  • P presubscript 84 presuperscript 214 o

  • A presubscript 85 presuperscript 218 t

  • P presubscript 82 presuperscript 214 b

Choose your answer

Did this page help you?

21 mark

What is the ratio of fraction numerator specific space charge space of space Li presubscript 3 presuperscript 7 space nucleus over denominator specific space charge space of space scriptbase straight O to the power of 2 plus end exponent space ion end scriptbase presubscript 8 presuperscript 16 end fraction?

  • 6 over 7

  • 7 over 6

  • 24 over 7

  • 7 over 24

Choose your answer

Did this page help you?

31 mark

A sample of radioactive material contains radium R presubscript 88 presuperscript 221 a,  which decays by α-decay to form radon, R presubscript 86 presuperscript 217 n .

What percentage of the mass of the sample would be made up from radium, after half the nuclei had decayed?

  • 49.5 %

  • 50.0 %

  • 50.5 %

  • 98.2 %

Choose your answer

Did this page help you?

41 mark

The 232–Th decay series can be plotted as shown.

According to the diagram, how many possible routes are available for 232–Th to decay to a stable nucleus of 208-Pb?

q24_atomic-structure_aqa-as-mcq

  • 2

  • 4

  • 10

  • 12

Choose your answer

Did this page help you?

51 mark

Radioactive isotopes are used in medical imaging.

For example, two isotopes of iodine, 123-I and 131-I are both used by radiographers, who give them to patients in the form of iodide before taking scans.

The possible decay equations for these isotopes are:

  1. I presubscript 53 presuperscript 123 space rightwards arrow space T presubscript 52 presuperscript 123 e + _____

      2. I presubscript 53 presuperscript 131 space rightwards arrow space X presubscript 54 presuperscript 131 e + _____

Which is a correct difference between these two decays?

  • in 1, an electron neutrino is emitted, but in 2 an anti-electron neutrino is emitted

  • in 1, an electron has been absorbed but in 2 a neutron has been absorbed

  • in 1, an anti-electron neutrino is emitted, but in 2 an electron neutrino is emitted

  • in 1, a neutron became a proton but in 2 a proton became a neutron

Choose your answer

Did this page help you?

61 mark

The diagram shows the decay chain for a particular isotope.

What are the isotopes labelled 1, 2 and 3?

q26_atomic-structure_aqa-as-mcq

 

1

2

3

A

  T presubscript 90 presuperscript 230 h  A presubscript 85 presuperscript 218 t  P presubscript 82 presuperscript 210 b

B

  U presubscript 92 presuperscript 234  A presubscript 85 presuperscript 218 t  P presubscript 82 presuperscript 210 b

C

  U presubscript 92 presuperscript 234  P presubscript 84 presuperscript 218 o  T presubscript 81 presuperscript 210 l

D

  T presubscript 90 presuperscript 230 h  P presubscript 84 presuperscript 218 o  P presubscript 82 presuperscript 210 b

Choose your answer

Did this page help you?

71 mark

The graph shows the how the neutron-proton ratio of stable nuclei changes as proton number increases.

What other changes with increasing proton number are suggested by the graph?

q27_atomic-structure_aqa-as-mcq

  1. the charge-mass ratio increases
  2. the charge-mass ratio decreases
  3. the likelihood of α-decay increases
  4. the likelihood of β-plus decay increases
  5. protons outnumber neutrons in large nuclei, with a rapidly increasing ratio

  • 1 and 3

  • 2 and 3

  • 2, 4 and 5

  • 2, 3 and 5

Choose your answer

Did this page help you?

81 mark

Nuclear power stations use a fission reactor to create a nuclear reaction. A nucleus absorbs one neutron, leading to a reaction where more than one neutron is released. These neutrons in turn will set off more reactions.

This process is called a chain reaction.

Which one of these decay processes would be suitable to create a chain reaction?

  • B presubscript 5 presuperscript 10 space plus space n presubscript 0 presuperscript 1 space rightwards arrow space L presubscript 3 presuperscript 7 i space plus space____

  • A presubscript 13 presuperscript 27 l space plus space a presubscript 2 presuperscript 4 space rightwards arrow space P presubscript 15 presuperscript 30 space plus space____

  • P presubscript 15 presuperscript 30 rightwards arrow space S presubscript 14 presuperscript 30 i space plus space____

  • U presubscript 92 presuperscript 235 space plus space n presubscript 0 presuperscript 1 space rightwards arrow space C presubscript 55 presuperscript 138 s space plus space R presubscript 37 presuperscript 95 b space plus space____

Choose your answer

Did this page help you?

91 mark

Following the development of the atomic bomb, scientists discovered that they could create elements heavier than uranium by bombarding nuclei with neutrons. These reactions, where smaller nuclei are combined to form a heavier nucleus are called fusion reactions.

Fusion reactions are balanced in exactly the same way as radioactive decay equations.

What are the missing products of these fusion reactions?

1. U presubscript 92 presuperscript 238 space plus space n presubscript 0 presuperscript 1 space rightwards arrow space U presubscript blank presuperscript blank

2. P presubscript 94 presuperscript 239 u space plus 2 space n presubscript 0 presuperscript 1 space rightwards arrow space A presubscript blank presuperscript blank m space plus space e presubscript negative 1 end presubscript presuperscript 0

 

1

2

A

 U presubscript 92 presuperscript 239 A presubscript 95 presuperscript 240 m

B

 U presubscript 92 presuperscript 239 A presubscript 95 presuperscript 241 m

C

 U presubscript 92 presuperscript 237 A presubscript 95 presuperscript 237 m

D

 U presubscript 92 presuperscript 237 A presubscript 95 presuperscript 241 m

Choose your answer

Did this page help you?

101 mark

Radioactive sources are used in smoke detectors. Nuclides emitting α-particles are used because α-particles have low penetrating power.

Which of these nuclides is the most likely to be a good source of α-radiation?

  • 241-Am

  • 18-F

  • 89-Sr

  • 90-Sr

Choose your answer

Did this page help you?

11 mark

An atom of C presubscript 24 presuperscript 52 r loses three electrons.

What is the specific charge of the ion?

  • + 5.5 × 106 C kg-1

  • - 5.5 × 106 C kg-1

  • + 12.0 × 106 C kg-1

  • + 4.42 × 107 C kg-1

Choose your answer

Did this page help you?

21 mark

A nucleus of R presubscript 86 presuperscript 222 n undergoes radioactive decay so that the decay product is B presubscript 83 presuperscript 214 i .

What combination of radioactive emissions could have occurred?

  • alpha rightwards arrow beta to the power of minus rightwards arrow alpha

  • alpha rightwards arrow beta to the power of plus rightwards arrow beta to the power of plus

  • alpha space rightwards arrow space alpha space rightwards arrow space alpha

  • alpha rightwards arrow beta to the power of plus rightwards arrow alpha

Choose your answer

Did this page help you?

31 mark

For the following decay equation, identify the type of decay and particle X.

 C presubscript 6 presuperscript 11 space rightwards arrow space B presubscript 5 presuperscript 11 + X + Y

 

type of decay

particle X

particle Y

A

γ

electron

anti-neutrino

B

β-minus

positron

neutrino

C

β-plus

positron

neutrino

D

β-plus

electron

anti-neutrino

Choose your answer

Did this page help you?

41 mark

What is the ratio of the specific charge of a proton compared to the specific charge of an alpha particle?

  • 1 fourth

  • 1 half

  • 2

  • 4

Choose your answer

Did this page help you?

51 mark

A radioactive nucleus absorbs a neutron, causing it to emit an α particle, and two β-minus particles. At each stage gamma radiation is also released.

What will be final nuclide be?

  • a new element with a smaller proton number

  • a new element with a higher proton number

  • an isotope of the original element

  • a stable element

Choose your answer

Did this page help you?

61 mark

Astatine is a radioactive substance; it has a nucleon number of 218 and a proton number of 85. When it decays, it forms a polonium nucleus, emitting a β− particle and an α-particle.

What are the nucleon number and the proton number of the polonium nucleus?

  nucleon number  proton number
A 214 84
B 214 83
C 216 83
D 215 82

Choose your answer

Did this page help you?

71 mark

An atom of F presubscript 9 presuperscript 19 gains 2 electrons.

What is the specific charge of the ion?

  • 1.01× 107 C kg–1

  • –1.01× 107 C kg–1

  • 2.13 × 107 C kg–1

  • –2.13 × 107 C kg–1

Choose your answer

Did this page help you?

81 mark

Antimatter is a particle that is an antiparticle to the corresponding particle. A positron is the antiparticle of an electron.

What is the difference between a positron and an electron?

  • Mass

  • Magnitude of charge

  • Charge

  • Spin

Choose your answer

Did this page help you?

91 mark

An element with an unstable nucleus decays by emitting an alpha particle to become the nucleus of a different element.


The nucleus of the new element is unstable and will emit either an α-particle or a β− particle. This process continues until an isotope of the original element is formed.

What is the minimum possible number of the particles emitted?

  • 5

  • 4

  • 3

  • 2

Choose your answer

Did this page help you?

101 mark

Two gamma photons are produced when an electron and a positron annihilate each other.

What is the minimum frequency of the gamma radiation that could be produced?

  • 1.23 × 1020 Hz

  • 2.47 × 1020 Hz

  • 1.23 × 1014 Hz

  • 2.47 × 1014 Hz

Choose your answer

Did this page help you?